Tech Glitch at Pune Airport Disrupts IndiGo Operations; Flyers Fume Over Delays and Missing Luggage

Viman Nagar, 21st April 2025: Chaos gripped Pune Airport in the early hours of Sunday after a technical malfunction in the airport’s inline baggage screening system caused delays in at least 13 IndiGo flights and left luggage of nearly 100 passengers behind.

Passengers reported long queues and confusion at the IndiGo check-in counters, which persisted between midnight and 3 am, leading to major inconvenience.

“There was no clarity. The check-in lines were painfully long, and the staff seemed overwhelmed,” said a passenger scheduled to fly to Delhi. “It took me almost an hour just to drop my bag. Flights were delayed and no one gave us proper answers. This isn’t the first time such a thing has happened either.”

IndiGo Blames Technical Issue; Airport Denies Luggage Lapse
While IndiGo did not issue an official press statement, an airline representative confirmed the cause of the disruption. “There was a sudden failure in the inline baggage system at the airport. These glitches are becoming frequent, and it’s impacting operations significantly,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Airport director Santosh Dhoke clarified that a brief power fluctuation affected the check-in systems. “We have a backup mechanism in place. Airlines are expected to switch to manual or standby systems when such technical issues arise,” he said. “However, any baggage left behind is entirely the airline’s responsibility.”

A passenger took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to vent frustration: “It’s been 14 hours and I still haven’t received my luggage! I have an interview tomorrow and all my documents are in that bag. @IndiGo6E and @aaipunairport, is this the service you offer?”

Delhi Airport Repairs Add to Congestion
An airport official also noted that maintenance work at Delhi’s Terminal 2 has disrupted flight schedules. “Delhi-bound flights are facing ripple effects due to terminal adjustments and increased congestion. Though there were discussions to reduce frequency on the route, operations have continued as planned.”

Between 12 am and 2:50 am, Pune Airport handles 14 departures and 14 arrivals, a significant chunk of them operated by IndiGo on key routes including Delhi, Goa, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Chandigarh.

This isn’t the first time passengers have complained about bottlenecks during the airport’s midnight-to-dawn window. Last week, similar grievances were raised regarding prolonged check-in durations and lack of staff support.